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Environmental monitoring benefits from frequent, high-resolution measurements, but many areas of field science still rely on costly and inconsistent manual data collection methods that can compromise data continuity and scientific conclusions. Advancements in consumer-grade networking, sensing, and computing equipment increasingly enable low-cost, automated monitoring systems that overcome many of these limitations. In this paper, we present a case study of a greenfield design, remotely connected, high-throughput environmental sensor network deployed in the Summit Lake watershed of Humboldt County, Nevada, USA, an isolated region located within the Summit Lake Paiute Reservation and surrounding BLM land that previously lacked wide-area network connectivity. This network establishes a point-to-point microwave link to a regional research and education network and distributes local access via point-to-multipoint microwave nodes. Connected network clients consist primarily of consumer-grade sensors, radios, and ancillary hardware with accompanying software that aggregates environmental data into a structured database. While these clients do not entail all possible forms of environmental monitoring, the deployed clients cover a range of common climate, hydrologic, and wildlife measurements. Preliminary results show greater than 90% aggregate uptime with no data loss, facilitated by local storage backups, while substantially reducing required human effort. The described framework, hardware, and software provide a practical model for conservation groups seeking long-term, automated environmental monitoring in remote areas. 

Some biological invasions can result in algae blooms in the nearshore of clear lakes. We studied if an invasive crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) modified the biomass and community composition of benthic macroinvertebrates and therefore led to a trophic cascade resulting in increased periphyton biomass, elevated littoral primary productivity, and benthic algae bloom in a lake with remarkable transparency [Crater Lake, Oregon, USA]. After quantifying the changes in the spatial distribution of invasive crayfish over a 13-year period, we compared biomass and community composition of littoral–benthic macroinvertebrates, periphyton biovolume, community composition, nutrient limitation, and the development of benthic algae bloom in locations with high and low crayfish density. In addition, we determined if the alteration in community structure resulted in directional changes to gross primary production and ecosystem respiration. The extent of crayfish distribution along the shoreline of Crater Lake doubled over a 13-year period, leaving less than 20% of the shoreline free from crayfish. At high crayfish density sites, benthic macroinvertebrate biomass was 99% lower, and taxa richness was 50% lower than at low crayfish areas. High crayfish sites show tenfold greater periphyton biovolume, sixfold higher periphyton biomass (chlorophyll a), twofold higher metabolic productivity, and the presence of large filamentous algae (Cladophora sp.). The invasion of crayfish had negative consequences for a lake protected under the management of the USA National Park Service, with direct impacts on many levels of ecological organization. 

Abstract Wildfire smoke often covers areas larger than the burned area, yet the impacts of smoke on nearby aquatic ecosystems are understudied. In the summer of 2018, wildfire smoke covered Castle Lake (California, USA) for 55 days. We quantified the influence of smoke on the lake by comparing the physics, chemistry, productivity, and animal ecology in the prior four years (2014–2017) to the smoke year (2018). Smoke reduced incident ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation by 31% and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) by 11%. Similarly, underwater UV-B and PAR decreased by 65 and 44%, respectively, and lake heat content decreased by 7%. While the nutrient limitation of primary production did not change, shallow production in the offshore habitat increased by 109%, likely due to a release from photoinhibition. In contrast, deep-water, primary production decreased and the deep-water peak in chlorophyll a did not develop, likely due to reduced PAR. Despite the structural changes in primary production, light, and temperature, we observed little significant change in zooplankton biomass, community composition, or migration pattern. Trout were absent from the littoral-benthic habitat during the smoke period. The duration and intensity of smoke influences light regimes, heat content, and productivity, with differing responses to consumers.